SongMakers LIVE sells out The Espy
SongMakers LIVE, the first live performance event showcasing young Victorian songwriters from the SongMakers program, was held at a sold out The Espy in St Kilda on Sunday 23 November 2025.
The event featured 15 bands comprised of 62 young people from 14 different Victorian schools, performing 30 original songs to an audience of 500 at The Espy.
Each band performed two original songs, one created during their SongMakers workshop and another new original piece.
Prior to the event, bands participated in rehearsals and workshops at Bakehouse Studios in Richmond, guided by mentors including Elizabeth M. Drummond, Joel Ma, Jackson Phelan, and Claire Rayner.
"SongMakers LIVE was the first event of its kind for SongMakers. It was an incredible success! The young people were extremely impressive - both onstage and off. The future of Victorian songwriting and performance is looking very bright indeed." - Katie Wighton, National Manager, SongMakers.
Congratulations to all the bands: ABC, Armonía, Caught in the Crossfire, Distasteful Microwaves, Electric Stardust, Eleutheromania, Felonys, Fox Bodies, Godspeed, group ONE, Problematic, The Masches, The Routine, THE VICEROYS, Vapour and Mia Wray.
A big THANK YOU to the friends, family and loved ones who came to support and sold the event out!
The program, run by APRA AMCOS and supported by Creative Victoria and the Community Support Fund, connects young people with practical songwriting and music-making skills.
The Victorian SongMakers program has run over 70 programs, working with over 1000 young songwriters and facilitating the writing and recording of over 300 original songs.
Since launching in 2013, the national SongMakers program has taught over 5,000 young people and their teachers at more than 280 high schools nationally and created more than 1,000 original songs. Famous alumni include Taka Perry, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and Tia Gostelow.
All photos by Rick Clifford @rcstills.
